MATCH PREVIEW: Elgin City v Forfar Athletic

The ‘Loons’ head to Boroughbriggs on Monday for the first time since March of 2010 for a clash between the two highest scoring teams in the league with 79 goals between them from 17 games played.

In fact while the Athies have netted 13 goals in their last three games in the Ladbrokes League 2, City have netted 12 in the same period.

Jim Weir’s outfit have also hit the net 18 times in their last three home games in league and cup, eight against Hawick Royal Albert , being followed by four against Montrose and six against Berwick, former Caley Thistle and Peterhead

striker Shane Sutherland their main man.

Gary Bollan’s side will head north however in confident mood following recent results which have seen them re-establish a seven point lead at the top of the table, eleven points clear of their third placed January 2nd opponents.A few of the Station Park squad obtained knocks or small niggling injuries in the hard fought and bruising encounter with Clyde on Boxing Day, but the club’s medical staff are hopeful that a clean ‘bill of health’ may be the order of the day come 3p.m on Monday.

Forfar Athletic Officials, Management and the Players are leaving no stone unturned in their preparation for the first fixture of the New Year.

The players trained on Thursday and will return for a second session of the week on Hogmanay morning.

Then all the West of Scotland, Edinburgh and Central belt players in the squad will spend New Year’s night in a local hotel before the 9a.m. departure from the ‘toonie’ on the Monday morning.

This fixture brings the ‘curtain down’ on the first half of the season, the previous encounter between the sides at Station Park in August ending in a 3-2 home win.    Tam O’Brien notched a brace for the homesters with Josh Peters the other marksman, Chris McLeish the scorer of both Elgin goals.

Monday’s match will be refereed by Edinburgh based Gavin Ross, handling a ‘Loons’ fixture for the third time this season.

City officials are hoping for a big turnout for the game and their counterparts at Station Park are thrilled with the response to a Supporters Coach for the journey to Morayshire.

They have had to hire a larger coach than originally booked which means a few seats are still available.

Departure time from the Myre Car Park is 10.30a.m.

For those heading north by coach or car, there is a Social Club facility available to visiting supporters at Boroughbriggs, with the town centre also just a few minutes walk away.